Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Leviticus 14:1-9
The first act took place outside the camp and restored the formerly unclean person to the fellowship of the other Israelites from whom he had experienced separation because of his skin disease.Clean animals, including clean birds, represented Israel. [Note: Wenham, The Book . . ., p. 208.] Both of the birds used in this ritual evidently symbolized the Israelite who was about to reenter the covenant community. The bird killed probably represented the formerly unclean person whose fate was death... read more
Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Leviticus 14:8
Leviticus 14:8. Shall wash his clothes, &c.— All these ceremonies were no less productive, than they were demonstrative, of entire purification: and, as the disorder was so contagious, a seven days exclusion was reasonably enjoined to prevent all infection, and to shew that the disease was perfectly cured; after which the leper was deemed pure, and was re-admitted to all the privileges of society. REFLECTIONS.—1. If the leper was cured, the priest went forth to him to view him. Though a... read more